Genetic diversity and differentiation of Kermode bear populations

The Kermode bear is a white phase of the North American black bear that occurs in low to moderate frequency on British Columbia's mid-coast. To investigate the genetic uniqueness of populations containing the white phase, and to ascertain levels of gene flow among populations, we surveyed 10 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci, assayed from trapped bear hairs. A total of 216 unique bear genotypes, 18 of which were white, was sampled among 12 localities. Island populations, where Kermodes are most frequent, show approximately 4% less diversity than mainland populations, and the island richest in white bears (Gribbell) exhibited substantial genetic isolation, with a mean pairwise FST of 0.14 with other localities. Among all localities, FST for the molecular variant underlying the coat-colour difference (A893G) was 0.223, which falls into the 95th percentile of the distribution of FST values among microsatellite alleles, suggestive of greater differentiation for coat colour than expected under neutrality. Control-region sequences confirm that Kermode bears are part of a coastal or western lineage of black bears whose existence predates the Wisconsin glaciation, but microsatellite variation gave no evidence of past population expansion. We conclude that Kermodism was established and is maintained in populations by a combination of genetic isolation and somewhat reduced population sizes in insular habitat, with the possible contribution of selective pressure and/or nonrandom mating.     

Genetic structure among and within peripheral and central populations of three endangered floodplain violets

Understanding the partitioning of genetic variance in peripheral and central populations may shed more light on the effects of genetic drift and gene flow on population genetic structure and, thereby, improve attempts to conserve genetic diversity. We analysed genetic structure of peripheral and central populations of three insect-pollinated violets (Viola elatior, Viola pumila, Viola stagnina) to evaluate to what extent these patterns can be explained by gene flow and genetic drift. Amplified fragment length polymorphism was used to analyse 930 individuals of 50 populations. Consistent with theoretical predictions, peripheral populations were smaller and more isolated, differentiation was stronger, and genetic diversity and gene flow lower in peripheral populations of V. pumila and V. stagnina. In V. elatior, probably historic fragmentation effects linked to its specific habitat type were superimposed on the plant geographic (peripheral-central) patterns, resulting in lower relative importance of gene flow in central populations. Genetic variation between regions (3-6%), among (30-37%) and within populations (60-64%) was significant. Peripheral populations lacked markers that were rare and localized in central populations. Loss of widespread markers in peripheral V. stagnina populations indicated genetic erosion. Autocorrelation within populations was statistically significant up to a distance of 10-20 m. Higher average genetic similarity in peripheral populations than in central ones indicated higher local gene flow, probably owing to management practices. Peripheral populations contributed significantly to genetic variation and contained unique markers, which made them valuable for the conservation of genetic diversity.     

Genetic differentiation and diversity of Acacia koa populations in the Hawaiian Islands

Acacia koa A. Gray (koa) is a leguminous tree endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and can be divided into morphologically distinguishable groups of A. koaia Hillebrand, A. koa and populations that are intermediate between these extremes. The objectives of this investigation were to distinguish among divergent groups of koa at molecular levels, and to determine genetic diversity within and among the groups. Phylogenetic analyses using the ITS/5.8S rDNA and trnK intron sequences did not separate the representative koa types into distinct clusters. An unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis, based on allele profiles of 12 microsatellite loci for 215 individual koa samples, separated the population into three distinct clusters consistent with their morphology, A. koaia, A. koa and intermediate forms. There was an average of 8.8 alleles per polymorphic locus (AP) among all koa and koaia individuals. The intermediate populations had the highest genetic diversity (H′ = 1.599), AP (7.9) and total number of unique alleles (21), whereas A. koaia and A. koa showed similar levels of genetic diversity (H′ = 0.965 and 0.943, respectively). No correlation was observed between geographic distance and genetic distance as determined by a Mantel test (r = 0.027, P = 0.91). The data presented here support previous recommendations that morphological variation within koa should be recognized at the subspecific level rather than as distinct species.     

High levels of genetic diversity in marginal populations of the marsh orchid Dactylorhiza majalis subsp. majalis

Because of harsh conditions, suboptimal habitat quality and poor connectivity to other populations, plant populations at the margin of a distribution are expected to be less genetically diverse, but to be more divergent from each other than populations in the centre of a distribution. In northern Europe, northern marginal populations may also be younger than populations further to the south, and may have had less time to accumulate genetic diversity by mutation and gene flow. However, orchids have very small seeds, which are easily dispersed long distances by wind, and orchids are therefore expected to show less differentiation between marginal and central populations than other groups of seed plants. Here, we analysed whether Scandinavian populations of the tetraploid marsh orchid Dactylorhiza majalis subsp. majalis differ from central European populations in genetic diversity patterns. A total of 220 plants from eight central European and ten Scandinavian populations was examined for variation at five nuclear microsatellite loci, nuclear ITS and 13 polymorphic sites in noncoding regions of the plastid genome. The total genetic diversity was slightly lower in Scandinavia than in central Europe, both in plastid and nuclear markers, but the differences were small. Also, the Scandinavian populations were less diverse and somewhat more strongly differentiated from each other than the central European ones. Dactylorhiza majalis subsp. majalis has apparently colonized Scandinavia on multiple independent occasions and from different source areas in the south. Seed flow between Scandinavian populations has still not fully erased the patterns imprinted by early colonization. Our results suggest that marginal populations of orchids may be as important as central ones in preserving genetic diversity through Pleistocene glacial cycles. We also predict that orchids with their light seeds are better adapted than many other plants to respond to future climate changes by dispersing into new suitable areas.     

Genetic diversity and differentiation of guanaco populations from Argentina inferred from microsatellite data

Genotype data from 14 microsatellite markers were used to assess the genetic diversity and differentiation of four guanaco populations from Argentine Patagonia. These animals were recently captured in the wild and maintained in semi-captivity for fibre production. Considerable genetic diversity in these populations was suggested by the finding of a total of 162 alleles, an average mean number of alleles per locus ranging from 6.50 to 8.19, and H(e) values ranging from 0.66 to 0.74. Assessment of population differentiation showed moderate but significant values of F(ST)=0.071 (P=0.000) and R(ST)=0.083 (P=0.000). An amova test showed that the genetic variation among populations was 5.6% while within populations it was 94.4%. A number of 6.6 migrants per generation may support these results. Unambiguous individual assignment to original populations was obtained for the Pilcaniyeu, Las Heras and La Esperanza populations. The erroneous assignment of 18.75% Rio Mayo individuals to the Las Heras population can be explained by the low genetic differentiation found between these two populations. Thirty-nine of 56 loci per population combinations were in Hardy--Weinberg disequilibrium because of guanaco heterozygote deficiency, which may be explained by population subdivision. The high level of genetic diversity of the guanacos analysed here indicates that the Patagonian guanaco constitutes an important genetic resource for conservation or economic utilization programmes.     

Genetic differentiation of continental and island populations of Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Europe

Ten microsatellite loci and a partial sequence of the COII mitochondrial gene were used to investigate genetic differentiation in B. terrestris, a bumble bee of interest for its high-value crop pollination. The analysis included eight populations from the European continent, five from Mediterranean islands (six subspecies altogether) and one from Tenerife (initially described as a colour form of B. terrestris but recently considered as a separate species, B. canariensis). Eight of the 10 microsatellite loci displayed high levels of polymorphism in most populations. In B. terrestris populations, the total number of alleles detected per polymorphic locus ranged from 3 to 16, with observed allelic diversity from 3.8 ± 0.5 to 6.5 ± 1.4 and average calculated heterozygosities from 0.41 ± 0.09 to 0.65 ± 0.07. B. canariensis showed a significantly lower average calculated heterozygosity (0.12 ± 0.08) and observed allelic diversity (1.5 ± 0.04) as compared to both continental and island populations of B. terrestris. No significant differentiation was found among populations of B. terrestris from the European continent. In contrast, island populations were all significantly and most of them strongly differentiated from continental populations. B. terrestris mitochondrial DNA is characterized by a low nucleotide diversity: 0.18%± 0.07%, 0.20%± 0.04% and 0.27%± 0.04% for the continental populations, the island populations and all populations together, respectively. The only haplotype found in the Tenerife population differs by a single nucleotide substitution from the most common continental haplotype of B. terrestris. This situation, identical to that of Tyrrhenian islands populations and quite different from that of B. lucorum (15 substitutions between terrestris and lucorum mtDNA) casts doubts on the species status of B. canariensis. The large genetic distance between the Tenerife and B. terrestris populations estimated from microsatellite data result, most probably, from a severe bottleneck in the Canary island population. Microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA data call for the protection of the island populations of B. terrestris against importation of bumble bees of foreign origin which are used as crop pollinators.     

虾夷扇贝（Patinopecten yessoensis）5个群体的遗传多样性

虾夷扇贝为20世纪80年代初从日本引入我国并逐渐开展养殖的双壳贝类,目前已在我国北方地区大面积养殖。实验采用微卫星分子遗传标记技术对大连獐子岛底播增殖放流群体（CC）、黄海北部海区采集的野生群体（HQ）、日本青森养殖群体（JX）、俄罗斯远东日本海沿岸养殖群体（RX）及大连大长山岛养殖上壳白化群体（ZB）等5个虾夷扇贝群体的遗传多样性进行研究。其中HQ群体为本课题组2005年在黄海北部采集的野生群体,本研究筛选出一个该群体的特异性遗传标记。用8个微卫星位点进行扩增,共获得45个等位基因,每个位点的等位基因数处于3—9之间,大小为100—340bp,平均有效等位基因数为3．1535,基因型数为3—21个,PIC（PolymorphismInformationContent）值处于0．0322-0．5944之间。5个群体的平均观测杂合度分别为0．3292、0．3048、0．3167、0．2708、0．3042,平均期望杂合度分别为0．4595、0．4002、0．3838、0．3620、0．3885,群体间的多态性差异不显著。根据群体间遗传相似性系数、遗传距离及UPGMA聚类分析发现,CC和HQ群体亲缘关系最近,JX和RX群体的亲缘关系较近,ZB群体与JX和RX群体的亲缘关系较近。通过Hardy—Weinberg平衡及F-检验发现,5个群体都不同程度的偏离平衡,表明各群体基因频率和基因型频率的稳定性较低,且5个群体均处于不同程度的杂合子缺失状态,群体间的遗传分化程度较高,但遗传变异主要来自群体内的个体间。     

Electrophoretic differentiation in isolated populations of Lolium rigidum Gaud.

Sixteen wild populations of Lolium rigidum Gaud. were collected from island and mainland locations in Mediterranean Europe and western Asia. Five loci, controlling isozymes at four enzyme systems, were assayed on 60 plants per population using starch gel electrophoresis. Gene diversity measures and Nei’s genetic distance were calculated, and the relationships between the populations were analysed using principal component (PCA) and cluster analyses. All populations were found to show a gene diversity index that is consistent with that expected in a cross-fertilising species. The highest gene diversity measures were recorded in some of the island populations. Both PCA and cluster analysis grouped the Balearic Island populations together and separated the Spanish and Sardinian populations from any of the others. The results are discussed with respect to a number of theories of migration between populations, and in relation to the colonization history of each island. It is suggested that the preservation of these island populations in gene banks is important as part of a core collection of the species.     

内蒙古典型草原羊草种群遗传分化的RAPD分析

运用 RAPD技术对内蒙古典型草原不同生境 8个羊草种群进行分析。采用 2 4个随机引物 (10 nt)在 8个种群中共检测到2 2 4个扩增片断 ,其中多态性片断 173个 ,总的多态位点百分率达 77.2 % ,特异性片断 2 2个 ,占 9.82 % ,平均每个引物扩增的DNA带数为 9.3 3条。利用 Nei指数和 Shannon指数估算了 8个种群的遗传多样性 ,并计算种群相似系数和遗传距离 ,运用UPGMA法进行聚类分析。结果表明 :羊草大部分的遗传变异存在于种群内 ,只有少部分的遗传变异存在于种群间 ,Nei指数和Shannon指数计算结果分别为 85.4%和 66.8% ;羊草不同种群的遗传多样性存在差异 ;8个羊草种群平均遗传距离为 0 .2 3 16,变异范围为 0 .1587～ 0 .2 70 0 ,说明 8个羊草种群间的遗传变异不大 ,即 :在较小地理范围内羊草的遗传分化程度较小 ;8个种群可聚为 3个类群 ,聚类结果显示生境相似的种群能够聚在一起 ,而地理距离最近的种群不一定归为一类 ,说明小范围内羊草种群间的遗传分化与地理距离不存在相关性 ,而与其生境间的相似度相关。影响遗传相似性的不是单一因子而是各种因子的综合作用 ,较小地理范围内羊草种群间的遗传分化主要是由环境的异质性所引起的     

濒危植物资源冷杉遗传多样性研究

资源冷杉(Abies ziyuanensis)属松科(Pinaceae)冷杉属(Abies),是国家一级保护的濒危植物。利用RAPD分子标记对分布于广西资源县银竹老山和湖南省炎陵县大院的2个资源冷杉种群共54株进行了遗传多样性分析。用20个随机引物共扩增到126个位点,其中66个位点是多态性的,总的多态位点百分率为52.4％,在两个种群分别为33.6％和31。2％。Nei's基因多样性为0.312,Shannon信息指数为0.475,两个种群的遗传分化系数Gst为0.455。基于Nei's遗传距离进行了UPGMA聚类分析,结果两种群的样品彼此明显区分开来。分析结果表明资源冷杉种群内的遗传多样性较低,但两种群间的遗传分化明显。需要同时重视两分布地的资源冷杉的保护工作。     

Genetic diversity in natural populations of the endangered Neotropical orchid Telipogon peruvianus

Telipogon peruvianus is a highly restricted, sexually deceptive, Neotropical orchid species, endemic to the southern Peruvian Andes. It is only known from two localities, which are affected by anthropogenic disturbance. Here, we investigated whether the restricted distribution of T. peruvianus has led to low genetic diversity and inbreeding, thus threatening its survival. We isolated 10 novel microsatellite loci specific for T. peruvianus (and that also cross-amplified in related species) from two adjacent populations. We found that genetic diversity within populations was only moderately reduced, along with some evidence of inbreeding. We found low levels of genetic differentiation, suggesting connectivity by pollen/seed flow between the two populations. Effective population size was comparable to the real number of flowering individuals in the populations and we did not detect the signature of recent bottlenecks. Taken together, these results show that, despite increasing anthropogenic pressure, the two investigated populations of T. peruvianus still host valuable genetic diversity that should be preserved through appropriate conservation strategies.     

粗山羊草居群间遗传分化及多样性的SSR分析

选用分布在粗山羊草14条染色体上的32对SSR引物,对来自中国河南、陕西、新疆和中东地区共147份粗山羊草材料进行遗传分化及多样性分析,结果表明在26个多态性位点中,等位基因数平均为4.15,Ne i基因多样性指数(He)平均为0.243,多态性信息含量指数(PIC)平均为0.226;居群间遗传变异差异明显,中东粗山羊草居群具有丰富的遗传变异(He=0.607,PIC=0.551),而来自陕西和河南的粗山羊草资源遗传多样性较低(He=0.055,PIC=0.047)和(He=0.024,PIC=0.021)。AMOVA分子变异分析显示,居群间遗传变异占总变异的52%,达到显著水平;河南粗山羊草和陕西粗山羊草间发生了一定的遗传分化(Fst=0.210),为研究中国粗山羊草资源的起源与分化问题提供了有用的信息与证据。     

Genetic diversity analysis of captive populations: The Vietnamese sika deer (Cervus nippon pseudaxis) in zoological parks

The Vietnamese sika deer (Cervus nippon pseudaxis) is an endangered subspecies; it has disappeared in the wild, but is being bred in zoological parks. We studied the neutral genetic diversity and population structure of herds kept in different European zoos, using nine microsatellite loci. The goal was to evaluate the consequences of founding effects and breeding practices on the level and structure of genetic variability. The level of genetic diversity within the European zoos is not lower than that of the populations kept in Vietnamese farms. Strong differences among zoological parks and between the European group and the Vietnamese population were detected. This is probably due to founding effects, genetic drift, and possibly hybridization in both Europe and Vietnam. We expected to find a much lower level of genetic diversity in Europe. The current overall level of genetic diversity is probably due to the recent introduction of Cuc Phuong individuals, and to important differences among the populations of different zoological parks, which increase the total genetic variability. Although the current level of genetic variability is not particularly low, future levels are probably threatened by the current herd sizes and structure. Based on these results, management guidelines are proposed. Zoo Biol 22:465–475, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Genetic diversity and differentiation between the two remaining populations of the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal

The Mediterranean monk seal Monachus monachus , is a critically-endangered species of which only two populations, separated by c . 4000 km, remain: the eastern Mediterranean (150–300 individuals) and the Atlantic/western Sahara populations (100–130 individuals). We measured current levels of nuclear genetic variation at 24 microsatellite loci in 12 seals from the eastern Mediterranean and 98 seals from the western Sahara population and assessed differences between them. In both populations, genetic variation was found to be low, with mean allelic richness for the loci polymorphic in the species of 2.09 and 1.96, respectively. For most loci, the observed allele frequency distributions in both populations were discontinuous and the size ranges similar. The eastern Mediterranean population had 14 private alleles and the western Sahara had 18, but with a much larger sample size. Highly significant differences in allele frequencies between the two populations were found for 14 out of 17 loci. F _ST between the two populations was 0.578 and the estimated number of migrants per generation was 0.046, both clearly indicating substantial genetic differentiation. From a conservation perspective, these results suggest that each population may act as a source for introducing additional genetic variation into the other population.     

拟环纹豹蛛不同地理种群遗传多样性的AFLP标记研究

为查明拟环纹豹蛛Pardosa pseudoannulata不同地理种群的遗传多样性机制,应用AFLP技术对6个拟环纹豹蛛地理种群的遗传多样性进行了研究分析。8对引物组合扩增出1 038个AFLP条带,其中多态性条带占86.622%,全部个体显示了各自独特的AFLP图谱。AFLP标记的遗传多样性分析结果表明： 拟环纹豹蛛无论在物种水平(P=86.62%,H=0.2622,I=0.3101),还是在种群水平（P=73.0%,H=0.2155,I=0.2554）都表现出较高的遗传多样性。其中湖南长沙雷锋镇种群内遗传变异最大,云南高黎贡山福贡种群内遗传变异最小,华南北部（湖南、湖北、江西）地区拟环纹豹蛛遗传多样性明显高于华南南部（云南、海南）种群。据种群变异来源分析,有35.77%的遗传变异来自种群间,64.23%的变异来源于种群内（N_m=0.898）,不同地理种群显示出一定的遗传分化。分析认为海拔是影响拟环纹豹蛛遗传分化的重要因素,这为进一步明确我国稻田狼蛛优势种群在农药胁迫下的遗传适应性机制提供了实验依据。     

用RAPD检测华山新麦草自然居群的遗传结构和居群分化

华山新麦草特产于我国陕西华山,为国家一级重点保护植物。应用RAPD技术,用2 0条随机引物对黄埔峪、仙峪、华山峪3个居群不同海拔的13个亚居群共2 6 6个华山新麦草取样个体进行扩增,共得12 2个扩增片段。平均每个引物得到的扩增片段数为6 .1(2～10 )。实验数据的统计分析表明:黄埔峪居群的多态性位点比率为6 0 .6 6 % ,仙峪居群的多态性位点比率为90 .98% ,华山峪居群的多态性位点比率为95 .0 8% ,总的多态性位点比率为95 .0 8% ,说明华山新麦草具有较高的遗传变异性。Shannon多样性指数(0 .330 6 )和基因分化系数(GST=0 .32 6 3)揭示了华山新麦草居群遗传变异多存在于亚居群内。华山新麦草亚居群间的基因流N m=1.0 32 2 ,低于一般风媒传粉植物(N m=5 .2 4 )的基因流水平。亚居群间平均的遗传距离为0 .15 71(变化范围:0 .0 0 2 2～0 .2 90 1) ,最大的遗传距离值出现在黄埔峪亚居群(hp1)和华山峪高海拔亚居群(h8)之间,仙峪亚居群与华山峪高海拔亚居群之间以及华山峪高海拔亚居群与低海拔亚居群之间的遗传距离值也较大。遗传距离与海拔垂直距离之间的相关性分析表明二者有显著的相关性(p<0 .0 1)。聚类分析和主成分分析也显示华山新麦草自然居群已发生明显分化,主要表现为黄埔峪居群、仙峪居群与华山峪居群     

Genetic diversity and differentiation of 12 eastern Adriatic and western Dinaric native sheep breeds using microsatellites

Nuclear genetic diversity and differentiation of 341 sheep belonging to 12 sheep breeds from Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina were examined. The aim of the study was to provide the understanding of the genetic structure and variability of the analysed pramenka sheep populations, and to give indications for conservation strategies based on the population diversity and structure information. The genetic variation of the sheep populations, examined at the nuclear level using 27 microsatellite loci, revealed considerable levels of genetic diversity, similar to the diversity found in other European indigenous low-production sheep breeds. Population-specific alleles were detected at most loci and in breeds analysed. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.643 (in Lika pramenka) to 0.743 (in Vlasic pramenka), and the expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.646 (in Lika pramenka) to 0.756 (in Dalmatian pramenka). Significant inbreeding coefficients were found for half of the populations studied and ranged from 0.040 (Pag island sheep) to 0.091 (Kupres pramenka). Moderate genetic differentiation was found between the studied sheep populations. The total genetic variability observed between different populations was 5.29%, whereas 94.71% of the variation was found within populations. Cres island sheep, Lika pramenka and Istrian sheep were identified as the most distinct populations, which was confirmed by the factorial analysis of correspondence and supported through a bootstrapping adjustment to correct for the difference in the sample sizes. The population structure analysis distinguished 12 clusters for the 12 sheep breeds analysed. However, the cluster differentiation was low for Dalmatian, Vlasic, Stolac and Krk pramenka. This systematic study identified Lika pramenka and Rab island sheep as those with the lowest diversity, whereas Istrian sheep and Pag island sheep had the highest. Conservation actions are proposed for Istrian, Rab and Cres island sheep, Lika and Kupres pramenka because of high estimated coefficients of inbreeding.     

Analysis of five y-Specific microsatellite loci in Asian and Pacific populations

We have analyzed five Y-specific microsatellite loci (DYS388, DYS390, DYS391, DYS394, DYS395) in 17 Asian and Pacific populations representing a broad geographical area and different linguistic families, with an emphasis on populations from mainland and insular Southeast Asia. Analysis of gene diversity indicates that several of the studied populations have experienced substantial genetic isolation, and a reduction in male effective sizes (viz. the Northeast Indian populations Nishi, Adi and the Taiwanese aboriginals). The average values of the F_ST and (_ST statistics indicate a high degree of genetic differentiation among these populations at the five Y-specific markers (F_ST =0.21 and (_ST = 0.33, based on individual loci; F_ST = 0.09 and (_ST = 0.36, based on haplotypes), which conform to the expectation of a fourfold smaller effective size of the Y-linked loci compared with the autosomal loci. Dendrogram and principal coordinates analysis, with few exceptions, show a major separation between mainland and insular populations. Among the mainland populations, the Tibeto-Burman speakers from Northeast India cluster in a well-defined group, supported by high bootstrap values. The Southern Chinese, Northern Thai, So, and Cambodian also are integral to this cluster. The other major cluster is rather heterogeneous and includes, among others, the Austronesian-speaking populations. The Samoans of the Pacific, with a distinctive pattern of allelic distributions, stand as an outlier in the tree and PC representations. Although trends of genetic affinities among ethnically and geographically related populations are evident from the Y-specific microsatellite data, microsatellites are not optimal for deciphering complex migratory patterns of human populations, which could possibly be clarified by using additional and more stable genetic markers. Am J Phys Anthropol 110: 1–16, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.